Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**Nagger** · 28/01/2010, 9:45 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...em/8480348.stm

Stokes scores again

**Acornvilla** · 28/01/2010, 2:11 PM

and against celtic

keep em coming

**yapster** · 28/01/2010, 8:33 PM

Stokes can do a good job for Ireland

**backstothewall** · 28/01/2010, 9:52 PM

I would like to see him get the whole of the game against Brazil. A half with Keane and a half with Doyle.

I know a game against Brazil is always a good thing, but it would almost have been better to play a European side of a similar standard to ourselves. We could certainly learn more.

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

2. Who is our best option as last quarter big target man? Leon Best or Caleb Folan (or even Clinton Morrison)?

I still think Alan Lee could do a job. He's only 31, and even in the 3rd division he can still offer more than some of our other options in that role

**irishfan86** · 28/01/2010, 10:53 PM

Clinton Morrison is definitely not a target man...he's more of a workhorse than runs in the corners like a Kevin Doyle.

Doyle is a better header of the ball and better technically, but I think they are the same sort of player in terms of style of play.

**Yard of Pace** · 29/01/2010, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

I still think Alan Lee could do a job. He's only 31, and even in the 3rd division he can still offer more than some of our other options in that role

Alan Lee said something to the effect of "I couldn't care less about playing for Ireland again" not too long ago. I think he feels hard done by in terms of getting chances to play and I'd say bridges are burnt now.
He'd be well down the pecking order for me anyway.

**Duggie** · 29/01/2010, 11:26 AM

he deserves a chance with all the goals hes scored in the SPL this term. id like to see him get a half at least.

**Den Perry** · 29/01/2010, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

I would like to see him get the whole of the game against Brazil. A half with Keane and a half with Doyle.

I know a game against Brazil is always a good thing, but it would almost have been better to play a European side of a similar standard to ourselves. We could certainly learn more.

I still think Alan Lee could do a job. He's only 31, and even in the 3rd division he can still offer more than some of our other options in that role

ah here....third tier players? German second tier players? good job you're not picking the squad

**Crosby87** · 29/01/2010, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

I still think Alan Lee could do a job. He's only 31, and even in the 3rd division he can still offer more than some of our other options in that role

Haha. Trap is not going to pick Alan Lee. Lets move forward, not backwards.
Alan Lee.

**Royal rover** · 29/01/2010, 11:45 AM

i pointed out a couple of months ago on this thread how good i thought stokes is - granted it's the SPL - but take it from me the scots rate him higher than any other striker in the league - he's far superior than kenny miller ., Boyd , Mcdonald, i could go on - if he gets 20 this season he'll go back to the EPL as a 3million player and a nice little profit for Hibs - someone will definetly take a chance on him

**Duggie** · 29/01/2010, 11:49 AM

ya isnt he still only like 21 ? maybe staying in the SPL for a few years will be good for him.

**Razors left peg** · 29/01/2010, 12:04 PM

With talk of Scott McDonald leaving Celtic I wouldnt be at all surprised to see them come sniffing around Stokes in the summer

**seanfhear** · 29/01/2010, 1:04 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

With talk of Scott McDonald leaving Celtic I wouldnt be at all surprised to see them come sniffing around Stokes in the summer

Interesting idea. If he gets a move to a bigger club he better be ready tempermentally (Maturity) the next time.

**dr_peepee** · 29/01/2010, 1:19 PM

I don't watch the SPL at all, but would I be correct in speculating that one or both of the old firm are more likely to be picked off over the next couple years by the likes of Hibs, than they would have been a few years ago???

**Acornvilla** · 30/01/2010, 3:34 PM

yep the field seems to be leveling.. the only diffrence between the sides are their historys and brand name really not a massive gap in footballing terms. hibs especially getting stronger.. liam millar scored there for them

**TrapAPony** · 30/01/2010, 4:23 PM

Stokes taken off against St. Mirren after 75 minutes. Liam Miller is still not good enough to be any where near our national side. The SPL is not of a good standard.

**kennedmc** · 30/01/2010, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by TrapAPony

Liam Miller is still not good enough to be any where near our national side. The SPL is not of a good standard.

Yeah its very poor standard now. I was looking at the hibeesbounce forum there and they love Miller - think he is a class player.

**Eirambler** · 30/01/2010, 6:42 PM

Originally Posted by kennedmc

Yeah its very poor standard now. I was looking at the hibeesbounce forum there and they love Miller - think he is a class player.

Miller was Man of the Match against Celtic on Wednesday and again today, and played really well last Saturday too. Don't know why he hasn't impressed in England or for Ireland because he's had enough chances to, maybe it's just too big a step up for him, he's looked amazing playing for Celtic and now Hibs.

Stokes scoring record in the SPL is exceptional, something like 27 goals in 37 games. I think the Sunderland move came too soon for him and he was mis-managed by Keane but at his age he'll definately get another shot at the big time. Hibs could make a nice profit on him this summer (they paid £500k for him) or they might hang onto him for one more year (he's contracted to 2012) and take the cash then. Another year at Hibs could be good for Stokes as well.

I don't watch the SPL at all, but would I be correct in speculating that one or both of the old firm are more likely to be picked off over the next couple years by the likes of Hibs, than they would have been a few years ago???

Rangers were actually picked off by Hearts for 2nd spot in 2005/06, although Hearts achieved this by spending far outside their means and are paying for this now.

Rangers are effectively run by a bank these days and haven't bought a player for a couple of years. Celtic have some cash but are in transition and it's questionable whether Mowbray is the man to take them back to the top. So yes, it's weak at the moment but to be fair to Hibs and Dundee Utd, they have both massively improved also in the last few years, there's no way Hibs could have signed a Miller or Stokes until recently.

**SilkCut** · 31/01/2010, 1:44 AM

This and the Liam Miller thread appear to be going down the same road.

We as Irish people would have more interest in the SPL than most, most of us remember it when players like Laudrup, Gazza, Larsson, Albertz, Gattusso, Lennon, Lambert, McStay, Collins, Gough, Viduka, Sutton, Flo, Robertson, Hartson, Moravcik, McCoist and many many more were playing there now there is Boruc, McGeady and Kris Boyd with perhaps Fleck at Rangers and Stokes who are capable of playing at a much higher level. The standard has dropped dramatically since the collapse of Setanta.